2024 Peer Mentor Award winners announced

The Graduate Student Peer Mentor Awards recognize graduate students who exhibit stellar mentorship qualities.

The 2024 Peer Mentor Award winners are:

• Kenneth Martinez
• Emily Nott
• Nathan Petersen

Kenneth Martinez

Kenneth Martinez is a chemical engineering PhD candidate in the Avraamidou Circular Economy Systems Engineering Group. His research aims to elucidate the viability of sustainable chemical energy carriers—such as hydrogen, methanol, and ammonia—and their integration into powertrains for electromobility. This is achieved through comprehensive analyses incorporating circular economy, techno-economic, and life cycle assessments. With these assessments, he aims to make data-driven models from the most promising energy carrier supply chains. With optimization and machine learning techniques, Kenneth will optimize these interconnected supply chains and develop a robust decision-making tool that can provide tailored solutions for the transportation sector. This tool will take into consideration a holistic approach that includes environmental, social, economic, and technical aspects while achieving specific objectives of stakeholders and policymakers in facilitating data-driven decisions that can accelerate the transition to sustainable transportation fuels. Kenneth serves in the Graduate Education for Research Scholars (GERS) program by supporting underrepresented students to achieve their career goals. He also serves as a mentor through the Undergraduate Research Scholars (URS) program, preparing and guiding undergraduates in achieving fulfilling research experiences. His mentorship style is rooted in understanding his mentees’ unique backgrounds, interests, and goals by maintaining an open and supportive mentor-mentee relationship conducive to growth. Reflecting on his mentorship experiences, Kenneth finds great fulfillment in assisting his mentees with critical decisions that shape their academic and professional future. By sharing his personal experiences and employing structured decision-making analysis, he empowers them to make informed choices that align with their aspirations and goals.

Emily Nott

Emily Nott (MEd, she/they) is a doctoral student in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction. She is an educator, facilitator, artist, and musician. They are passionate about critical, youth-centered teaching and learning and community arts as a tool for social change. She instructs and co-instructs with Dr. Carl A. Grant for a course on Multiculturalism and Social Justice and with Dr. Erica Halverson for a course on Arts Integration. She is a member of the CALL to Equity Centered Leadership research project and a coordinator for the annual Play Make Learn conference in Madison. Previously, she served as the Director of Learning Communities at After School Matters in Chicago, where she developed teaching and learning supports for a community of hundreds of teaching artists across the city. They’re also a member and organizer with Teachers for Social Justice, and have installed multiple large-scale public arts installations throughout the Midwest. She holds an master of education degree in Instructional Leadership from the University of Illinois at Chicago, a bachelor of arts in Arts and Public Life from Michigan State University, and a bachelor of fine arts in Art Education from Michigan State University.

Nathan Petersen

Nathan Petersen is a PhD candidate in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. His research investigates advanced electric motor technology and spans motor design, modeling and analysis, control algorithms, and real-time embedded system deployment. He has worked as a student member of the Wisconsin Electric Machines and Power Electronics Consortium (WEMPEC) for the past six years. As part of WEMPEC, he has had the opportunity to mentor over 15 undergraduate and graduate students on lab projects and independent studies. Nathan takes a keen interest in helping students gain a foundation of lab-related skills that will propel them in their educational and professional journey. His mentorship style is “student first” where projects are uniquely designed to match the students’ interests and abilities, while always pushing them forward in skillset. After graduation in May 2024, Nathan plans to start a company to commercialize his PhD research.